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The antiviral remdesivir can be used in Switzerland. This was announced by the manufacturer, the American pharmaceutical company Gilead. The drug was part of the antibody cocktail received by the President of the United States, Donald Trump (74), during his crown disease in October. It was originally developed to fight the Ebola virus.
The order is out. Limited approval with conditions has been granted, ”a spokesperson for the Swissmedic Therapeutic Products Institute confirms to BLICK. The product has been used in Switzerland to treat adult patients with Covid-19 since the beginning of July. However, until now, its use was only allowed in the context of clinical studies or on special orders from the doctor.
The remedy is controversial
The effectiveness of the antiviral drug Remdesivir remains controversial. The World Health Organization (WHO) advises against the use of the agent for Covid-19 diseases. After detailed review, a WHO expert panel came to this conclusion.
The drug has no significant impact on mortality or other major effects in patients, such as the need for artificial ventilation or recovery time, the British Medical Journal wrote in an article published in early November.
President Trump thinks it will work
When Trump fell ill with corona disease in October, doctors gave him a cocktail of antibodies that, in addition to remdesivir, also contained the acid blocker famotidine. Weeks earlier, the president touted the drug as a miracle weapon against the virus. Additionally, he was being treated with dexamethasone, a steroid that can reduce mortality in severely ill corona patients.
“The limited approval of Swissmedic represents another important step towards offering an effective and well-tolerated treatment that can help patients recover more quickly,” says Christophe Griolet, CEO of Gilead Sciences Switzerland. (vnf)